Jersey gorilla dies after attack in Melbourne

Tuesday 26 May 2015

A female gorilla born in Jersey has been killed by an adult male in their enclosure in Melbourne Zoo.

Julia (33) was attacked by a young Silverback called Otana on Friday – she then slept away from the rest of the group, and staff at Melbourne’s Zoo checked her for injuries but found nothing.

A statement from Melbourne Zoo said: “On Saturday morning staff checking on Julia observed that she appeared to be unwell and was not responding as normal, although no wounds were visible.

“After immediate consultation with the Vet team, the decision was made to move Julia to the veterinary hospital for an examination.

“The Vet team examining Julia found that she had experienced extensive trauma and significant complications resulting from the aggression on Friday.”

Julia died at 3 am on Sunday morning, despite the efforts of the vet team.

Zoo spokeswoman Judith Henke told The Melbourne Age that: “He didn’t know his own strength.”

Julia had arrived in Melbourne in 1997, having previously bred with a Silverback called Motaba. Their offspring is now at Taronga Zoo in Sydney.

Otana arrived at Melbourne from Howlett’s Wild Animal Park in the UK in September 2013. His introduction to the gorillas in Melbourne seemed to be going well, but after the weekend’s incident he has been removed from the pack.

Durrell plays a leading role internationally in the management and breeding of Western Lowland Gorillas. It has had a gorilla population since it opened as Jersey Zoo in 1958.

Julia and another female, G’Ann, were sent to Melbourne in 1997 when the new Silverback Ya Kwanza arrived in Jersey and it became obvious that he didn’t get on with them.